The Youth of the Great Elector by L. Muhlbach

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With uplifted hand the Electoral Prince beckoned him to be silent, andwith rapid step and head sunk he paced up and down the apartment. Then allat once he stopped, and, quickly raising his head, asked, "Where isLeuchtmar? Why did he not come with you?"

"I know not, Prince--he told me he could not dare to appear in yourpresence; he--"

"Ah! that is true," said the Prince mournfully; "we have not seen eachother since--I beg of you, Marwitz, to go and fetch Leuchtmar to me."

The baron made haste to execute the Prince's mandate. Frederick Williamlooked after him until the door closed behind him. Then his large, moisteyes were slowly upraised to heaven, and his trembling lips murmured: "Oh,how young I am yet, and how much I have still to learn! Help me, my God,that I may have the needed strength!"

Again the door opened, and Marwitz entered, followed by Leuchtmar, whoremained standing at the door. The Electoral Prince looked at him withquestioning glances, and ever brighter became his brow, ever more cheerfulhis aspect. And all at once he spread out his arms, and in a tone of mostheartfelt love, most tender pleading, called out, "My beloved teacher!come to my arms!"

Leuchtmar sprang forward with a cry of joy. The Prince tenderly fell onhis neck and pressed him closely to his breast.

"Oh," he murmured softly, "my friend, I have suffered much, and stillsuffer. Forgive me on account of my pain!"

And he leaned his head on Leuchtmar's shoulder and wept bitterly. A longpause ensued. No one of the three could interrupt it, for speech remainedlocked upon the trembling lips of all, and only their tears, their sighsspoke. Then the door slowly opened, and the private secretary, Mueller,appeared upon the threshold. For a moment he stood still, and looked withquivering lips upon the Prince, who was just slowly extricating himselffrom Leuchtmar's embrace, then he stepped resolutely forward.

"Your highness," he said, "forgive me for venturing to intrude my presencehere, without having been summoned. But old Dietrich dared not take thestep which I do now, and so the responsibility rests upon myself alone."

"And what is it?" asked the Prince. "What brings you to me, my dear, truefriend?"

"He calls me his dear, true friend!" rejoiced Mueller.

"All is right again, then--all is in order! We are not dismissed--we arenot sent home!"

"You may be, after all, my old friend," said the Electoral Prince, with afeeble smile. "But what would you say to me? What sort of responsibilityhave you taken upon yourself?"

"Prince, I have taken upon myself the responsibility of admitting intoyour cabinet the veiled lady who has just come, and of requesting you togrant her the audience for which she has been besieging Dietrich withtears and lamentations. Dietrich, however, would not hear to it, and thelady continually called for Eberhard to come--Eberhard must lead her tothe Prince. But, as Dietrich says, this is not Eberhard's week of service,so that he can not enter here. I was attracted to the antechamber by theloud conversation, and now the lady turned upon me, and pleaded sotouchingly and so eloquently, that I could not refuse to grant herrequest. Your highness, I have conducted the lady into your cabinet, andshe awaits you there."

"But, Mueller," cried Baron Leuchtmar despairingly, "what have you done?How could you be so inconsiderate?"

The old man drew himself up, and his mild eye grew angry. "Inconsiderate!I was not at all inconsiderate, Baron Leuchtmar. On the contrary, Ithought it would be unworthy of a noble Prince to allow a woman to pleadin vain, and I thought, moreover, that Hercules would never have become ahero if he had not had the valor to meet the women who greeted him at thecrossing of the roads."

"You have done right, Mueller," said Frederick William, with a faint smile;"it will be seen whether Hercules was perhaps my forefather. I shall speakto the lady. Wait for me here."

He crossed the apartment hastily, and entered his cabinet. In the centerof the room stood a veiled female form. The Prince, however, recognizedher, although her face could not be seen, for he knew her by her prettycoquettish costume to be the Princess Ludovicka's French chambermaid, andhe stepped quickly up to her.

"I thought that it was you, Alice," he said softly, "and I have thereforecome to tell you to--"

With sudden movement she tore back her veil, and before the pale,beautiful countenance thereby revealed the Prince stepped back, as pale asdeath.

"You yourself?" he murmured. "You, Ludovicka?"

"Yes, I, Ludovicka! I come here in my maid's dress," said she, in a voicetrembling with pain and emotion. "I come to you, my beloved, to ask youwhether you will desert me, leaving me in despair, affliction, andheart-sickness? O Frederick, Frederick! how fearfully have I suffered thisnight!"

"And I?" murmured he softly. "Have I not suffered too?"

"No," she cried, "you have not suffered as I did, for you love me not as Ilove you--you love me not more than your life, your honor, yourfatherland! You will abandon and forsake me, because it is France that hasoffered us aid! Oh, you are a cold, heartless man, as all men are, and yetI love you so much and can not live without you! Frederick William, youwill not go with me to France--well then, I will go with you, wherever youwill. I cleave to you--I will stay with you! Let shame and ignominy be myfate, let my mother curse me, let all the world despise me and call meyour mistress, I will stay with you, for I love you and can not livewithout you!"

Passionately she extended her arms to him, love flaming in her glances.But a darker shadow flitted across the Prince's face, and he shrank back.

"God forbid, Ludovicka," he said, "that misery and shame should ever cometo you through me, that your mother should curse you for my sake! We areboth yet children, Ludovicka. I felt right painfully last night that thefirst duty of children is to obey and reverence their parents. Let us doour duty, Ludovicka!"

"That is," replied she with swelling rage--"that is to say, you give meup? They have overcome your opposition, they have brought you back toobedience, to subjection?"

"No other than myself has done it, Ludovicka."

"You? You give me up? Voluntarily? And yet you swore that you loved me andme alone of all the world?"

"And I swore truly, Ludovicka. I love you boundlessly!"

"And yet you will forsake me?"

"Yet I must do so, beloved! I must forsake you, but God alone, who haswitnessed my tortures this past night, knows what I suffer. My father issolitary, my fatherland calls to me, and the first thing that I sacrificeon its altar is my love for you. I can not marry you, Ludovicka, and Godforbid that I should accept your love without marriage!"

"Yes!" he cried with a loud scream of pain--"yes, I renounce my love!"

"Vengeance upon you for it!" cried she, in flaming wrath. "I, LudovickaHollandine, cry vengeance upon you, for you break my heart!"

"And you will have no compassion? You will not see what I suffer?Ludovicka, look! Look in my eyes, they wept out last night the pains of awhole life--see what I suffer! Ludovicka, on my knees I beseech you, ifyou really love me, then have pity upon me--for the sake of my agonyforgive me what you suffer!"

And beside himself with emotion, he fell upon his knees, lifting up to herhis clasped hands and his face that was bathed in tears.

But now it was she who shrank back. "No," said she harshly and severely,"no, no compassion, no forgiveness! I do not love you, I have never lovedyou, for you are a foolish boy, and know nothing of the glow of passion!You are a child! Go away and act like a child, and be an obedient son!Love rejects you! love turns from you!" And waving him off with bothhands, the Princess turned and walked to the door. Frederick William,still upon his knees, heard her quickly retreating steps, but did notrise. Ludovicka had already stretched out her hand to open the door; butshe turned round once more, and in tones of mingled love and grief cried,"Frederick, will you let me go?"

He did not answer, his head sank lower, and a painful groan forced itselffrom his breast. She opened the door--he heard it--he saw the streak oflight that crossed the room through the open door, it vanished--the doorhad closed. Then was wrung from the Prince's breast a shriek of agony suchas only issues from the lips of man under the pressure of earth's sharpestpangs.

The three gentlemen were yet assembled in the Prince's drawing room,conversing and imparting to one another their fears and hopes. All at oncethe door of the cabinet opened and the Electoral Prince entered. Pale asdeath, but with firm, determined features, he stepped up to the threegentlemen, who looked at him with tender, anxious glances.

"Marwitz," he said, "you can this very day set out on your return toBerlin, for your mission is fulfilled. Say to my father that as anobedient son I submit to his wishes, and shall forthwith depart forBerlin."

The three gentlemen only answered him by a single cry of joy, and,animated by one feeling, one inspiration, sank upon their knees and prayedaloud, "Bless, O God! bless the Prince, who has conquered himself!"

"What is going on here?" asked a loud manly voice behind them. "What meansthis? Three gentlemen on their knees, and my young cousin looking on likethe Knight St. George!"

"And so he is, Prince of Orange," cried Baron Leuchtmar, rising andadvancing to meet the Prince, who had come in unannounced, as was his wontat the house of his cousin. "Yes, he is a Knight St. George, who hasconquered the dragon. You know, Prince Henry, how sweetly they haveenticed him, with what magic chains they have been encircling him. Youknow the Media Nocte and"--added he softly--"the Princess Ludovicka."

"Well, and what more now?" asked the Prince, with eager interest. "Notmuch, cousin," said Frederick William, with a melancholy smile. "I mustbid you farewell. I owe it to my parents, to my honor, and my country,forthwith to leave The Hague!"[19]

"Bravo, cousin, bravo!" cried Henry of Orange. "You flee from danger andescape from temptation. That is to be called heroism, and herewith youhave as truly conquered a citadel as when I vanquished Breda!"

"Believe me too, cousin," said Frederick William, while he leaned upon the

Prince's heroic breast--"believe me, that this victory has cost much bloodand many tears."

One moment he let his head rest on the shoulder of his fatherly friend,then proudly drew himself up.

"Baron Leuchtmar and you, my trusty private secretary, Mueller!" he cried,with loud voice, "to-day we leave The Hague and proceed to Arnheim, andthence we set forth to-morrow on our journey home. Marwitz, you travel inadvance. The golden days of our youth are past! Let iron ones follow! I amprepared for all!"

BOOK III.

I.--NEW PLANS.

"Strange, very strange," muttered Count Adam Schwarzenberg to himself."The Prince must have set out on his journey four weeks ago, and still nonews from Gabriel Nietzel! The journey by sea, it is true, offered noopportunity for any enterprise, and the Electoral Prince had the sublimefancy of choosing the water in preference to the land route, in spite ofthe severities of this season of the year. But, according to the Prince'sscheme of traveling, and according to my own calculations, the Prince musthave reached Hamburg full eight days ago, and as he was only to stay therethree days, he must already have been journeying five days by land, andyet have I in vain looked for any tidings whatever from Gabriel Nietzel.Could it be possible that this man has dared to disobey me?--could he havecarried his folly so far as to sacrifice wife and child rather thanexecute my commands?"

Gloomily the count's brow wrinkled, as he asked himself this question, andhis eyes flamed with fury. With folded arms he walked rapidly to and fro.

"To think that all my plans may be wrecked by the pangs of conscience of asingle fool!" he sighed--"to think, that for months, nay, for years, Ihave been laboring in vain to see the realization of these projects, andthat in my highest, proudest aims I am dependent upon a blockhead,who--What is it Daniel? What is your errand?"

"Pardon me, your excellency; some one is without whodesires most urgently to speak with you."

"Who is it?--do you know him?"

"No, my lord count, I do not know him, and he will not tell what he wantsof your excellency. He says he must speak with your lordship himself, andI must only announce his name. It is Gabriel Nietzel."

"Gabriel Nietzel!" cried the count. "Why did you not tell me so directly,you fool! Bring him in without delay, and take care that no one disturbsus so long as the painter Gabriel Nietzel is with us."

The lackey hurried off, leaving the door open for the painter, whom hefetched in from the first antechamber. Breathlessly, in violentexcitement, Count Schwarzenberg looked toward this open door. "It is myfuture fate that is about to enter," he murmured. "Ah, there he is! Thereis Gabriel Nietzel!" And in his vehement agitation he rushed forward a fewsteps to meet the painter, whom he saw approaching through the entrancehall. But forcibly constraining himself to an appearance of moderation andreserve, he stood still and assumed a calm, unimpassioned expression.Gabriel Nietzel entered, and behind him the lackey gently closed the door.The sharp eyes of the count rested inquiringly upon the newcomer, whoremained standing near the door with head sunk and humble, melancholymien. This submissive, contrite silence on the part of the returningpainter was sufficiently eloquent to the mind of the count. It told himthat Gabriel Nietzel had nothing welcome to communicate. He subdued hisrage and proudly threw back his head, as if to shake off, like troublesomeinsects, all his disappointed hopes.

"Well, you are actually at home again, Master Court Painter!" he cried, ina tone that was well-nigh cheerful.

"To me?" asked Schwarzenberg, affecting astonishment. "Why do you reportyourself to me, and what have I to do with you, Sir Court Painter GabrielNietzel? You should have gone to the palace, to the Electress, andgladdened her heart with your pleasing intelligence. I doubt not that youare the bearer of glad tidings for her, and come to forewarn her of thePrince's speedy arrival here in safety and good health?"

"I had no wish to go to her highness the Electress," said Gabriel Nietzelhumbly. "She knows already, independently of any information from me, thatthe Electoral Prince is safe and sound. I come to your excellency toexcuse myself for the failure of my undertaking, and to beg your pardon."

"I do not understand you at all, Sir Court Painter," replied CountSchwarzenberg, shrugging his shoulders. "I know not what sort ofundertaking you had in view, what you have failed in, and what I can haveto pardon you for."

"Your excellency!" cried Gabriel with an outburst of grief--"yourexcellency, I swear that I am innocent, that it has been the result of noill will, no negligence, but because I really could not find anopportunity for carrying out what--"

"Well, carrying out what?" asked Schwarzenberg, when Gabriel faltered."What do I care for your unfinished works, your abortive schemes? I onlybuy finished pictures, and, if they are well executed and successes, I payfor them in kingly style. With daubers, though, and wretched copyists whowould pass off copies as originals, I have nothing to do. Speak not to me,then, Sir Court Painter, of your sketches and designs. I ask nothing aboutthem, but only come to me when you have a completed work to exhibit."

"Your excellency will not understand me," said Gabriel, while drops ofagony trickled from his cold brow.

"No," proudly retorted the count, "it is for you to understand_me_, Sir Court Painter Gabriel Nietzel. Were you not sent to The Hague tocomplete your studies there? Why have you returned home so soon?"

The painter ventured to lift his eyes with earnest anxiety and entreaty tothe face of the count, but Schwarzenberg's glance remained cold.

"Ah, you have a wife?" he asked, with indifference. "You left her behindand went alone to The Hague?"

"Yes, I went there quite alone, because I had a great and important workto accomplish there; but before I had even stretched my canvas andsketched the outlines, an unexpected hindrance interposed whichannihilated all my plans."

"What sort of hindrance?" asked the count carelessly, while he played withthe heavy golden chain about his neck, to which was attached the portraitof the Elector set in brilliants. "What sort of hindrance?"

"The Electoral Prince, to whom the Electress had recommended me, and whoreceived me into the number of his attendants, suddenly and unexpectedlydetermined to take his departure from The Hague, and straightway carriedhis resolution into effect. He himself, together with Baron von Marwitz,Baron Leuchtmar von Kalkhun, secretary Mueller, and his chamberlainrepaired forthwith to Amsterdam, in order to take ship there. He, however,ordered his majordomo and myself to break up his household, to pack uphis books and paintings, and to journey with them by land to Berlin. Iventured to protest against this, and even preferred the request to bepermitted to accompany the Electoral Prince upon his sea voyage; this,however, Baron Leuchtmar refused, and nobody was allowed to speak with theElectoral Prince himself. Up to the time of his departure he remained shutup in his chamber, and only left it to get into the carriage whichconveyed him to Amsterdam. There, as was known, lay a passenger vesselready to sail for Hamburg, and in this the Electoral Prince took passage."

"And you did not see the Electoral Prince at all before he set out?"

"Oh, your excellency, I had ranged myself along with all his otherhousehold officers at the side of his traveling carriage, and the Princevery condescendingly held out his hand to me, yes, he even tried to smile.'Gabriel Nietzel,' he said, 'make all speed to reach Berlin right soon. Ishall desire my mother to allow you to enter my special service, and thenyou shall paint for me many a pretty picture. Until then, farewell!' Heonce more nodded kindly to me, and jumped into the carriage."

"That is the only time that you have spoken at all to the ElectoralPrince?"

"No, your honor, on the very day of my arrival I had an audience with him,and the Electoral Prince was highly delighted to receive news from home. Imust tell him everything in detail, and since, with your graciouspermission, I claimed to side with your lordship's opponents, theElectoral Prince immediately became very confidential and affectionate tome, receiving me into his house and retinue, and promising to present meat the courts of the Stadtholder and the Queen of Bohemia."

"How came it, then, that the Prince so immediately afterward suddenly tookthe resolution to depart?"

"Most gracious sir, four-and-twenty hours after myself the Chamberlain vonMarwitz arrived at The Hague, and had a long conversation with theElectoral Prince. Immediately after that the Electoral Prince gave ordersfor departure, and three hours later had already left The Hague."

"Now it seems, therefore, that Baron von Marwitz is a very persuasivespeaker, who well understood how to move the Electoral Prince's heart, andto lead him back to obedience to his father and--myself. I shall thereforeprove my gratitude to Herr von Marwitz. I like very much to have my ordersand commissions executed punctiliously and exactly, and this Herr vonMarwitz has done, for I had bidden him to leave no means untried wherebythe Electoral Prince might be induced to leave Holland."

A crushing glance from his large gray eyes as he uttered these words fellfull upon Gabriel Nietzel's pale and contrite face, making his heart quakewith undefined dread.

"Your honor is very angry with me?" he asked faintly.

"You?" exclaimed the count in astonishment. "Why should I be angry withyou? What have I to do with you? I only know you as the painter Nietzel,who sold me a copy for a good original, and whom I could therefore havecondemned to the gallows as a falsifier and cheat. But you know I haveforgiven you, and let your copy be valued as an original. I even wentfurther in my magnanimous forgiveness; I had even intrusted you withcommissions for Holland, where you were to visit the picture galleries inorder to make copies. You have not executed my commissions, for you havereturned home too soon. That is all, and therefore all connection betweenus is dissolved. Farewell, Mr. Court Painter Gabriel Nietzel; you aredismissed!"

He haughtily motioned to the door, turned his back upon the painter, andslowly traversed the apartment. But Gabriel Nietzel did not go. There hestood as if rooted to the spot, and stared fixedly at the count, whowalked to and fro, as if lost in thought, and seemed to be whollyunconscious that the painter had dared still to remain in his presence.After a long pause his eye fell quite accidentally on the spot whereGabriel Nietzel stood, and he started as if in sudden terror.

"I heard, but your honor knows that I can not go. Your lordship well knowsthat from your lips I await the sentence which is to seal my whole futurefate, and that I will not leave this room until I have received this."

"How? You will not leave this room. You will stay although I have biddenyou go? Very well, then, I shall call my servants and have you put out."

And already the count's hand was stretched forth to take his silverwhistle. But Gabriel Nietzel dared to grasp this hand and hold it firmlybetween both his own.

"You do know about her, your excellency! You took her and my dear,precious child under your protection when I went to The Hague. You had mywife and child carried to, Spandow, and gave them an abode within yourpalace there."

"Now I see plainly that you speak like a deranged man, Master GabrielNietzel," cried the count passionately. "Collect your faculties, man, or Ishall immediately have you arrested and sent to a madhouse. I repeat,collect your faculties, and utter not such palpably idle tales. Verylikely that I should have taken your wife and child into my keeping.Bethink yourself, Master Gabriel Nietzel, be rational, and remember thatyou are happily unincumbered and a free bachelor!"

"No, no, I am not free!" shrieked Gabriel Nietzel. "I have a wife, I havea child, and see them again I must! Deliver them up to me, Sir Count. Ibeseech you by all that is sacred--deliver them up to me! I must have mywife and boy again!"

"Well then, go and look for them," said Schwarzenberg composedly "Apply tothe police, and furnish them with a description of both their persons.Show your marriage license and your child's certificate of baptism, thatevery one may be convinced of the truth of your deposition. Then write adescription of your wife, or, as you are a painter, draw a likeness ofher, publish her name and family, call upon her relatives to render youtheir assistance, and in that way, if you really have a wife, you will inthe end succeed in discovering her."

"Sir Count, you well know that I can not do so," groaned Gabriel Nietzel."You well know that I am a poor, ruined man, entirely in your power. Ibeseech you, have mercy upon me! Restore to me my wife and child, and Iwill do all that you require of me. Give me back my wife, and I swear toyou that I will do here what I was to have done on the journey. I swearto you that I will make good what I missed, that I--"

"I do not believe your oaths, Gabriel Nietzel," interposed the count. "Youare liberal with your oaths and promises, but come short in deeds, inperformances. Nobody will pay for a picture before he has seen it, or atleast a sketch of the same. Therefore take yourself off, devise a plan,sketch your outline, and bring it to me. If it pleases me, and ispracticable, if I see that you are zealous and well disposed, then will Igladly aid you in its execution and pay you in princely style. That is mylast word, Master Court Painter Gabriel Nietzel, and now go, and do notshow your face here again until you can show me that sketch. You haveunderstood me, have you not, Master Gabriel Nietzel? I bespeak a picture,and you are to furnish me with a sketch of it; then, as you are in want, Ishall gladly pay you for it in advance."

"Yes, I have understood your lordship," said Gabriel Nietzel, heaving adeep sigh. "I know a subject for the painting you have ordered, and willmake a sketch of it. You shall not have to wait long for it."

"It is a fine subject," said Schwarzenberg quietly. "We might call it themurder of Julius Caesar."

"No, it is the execution of the Emperor Conrad III--the execution andmurder of the last Hohen-Hohenstaufen," sobbed the painter, while tearsfell in clear streams from his eyes.

"I believe another paroxysm of insanity has seized you," said the countcontemptuously. "How can any one weep merely because he will represent atragic scene? What is the last of the Hohenstaufens to you? You depict hisdeath, and if the painting is a success I shall reward you handsomely forit, give you a splendid income, and then you can go to Italy, the home ofall artists, to spend the remainder of your life there in pleasure andfreedom."

"It shall be just as your excellency says," sighed Gabriel. "Only, yourexcellency, only be so gracious as to give me back my wife and child."

"I said so, your paroxysm of madness is coming on afresh!" criedSchwarzenberg, shrugging his shoulders. "Man, are you really besideyourself?--have you lost your senses? Do you demand your wife and child ofme, of Count Adam von Schwarzenberg, the Stadtholder in the Mark? Go awaywith your follies. Be off, so that you can make your sketch, and when youcome back, and it is good, you will perhaps find me inclined to answer allyour silly questions for you!"

"Rebecca! your wife's name is Rebecca? Why, that really sounds as if shewere a Jewess. And you say that she is your wife? Ah, repeat that again,then name the priest who celebrated your nuptials and united a Christianto a Jewess! By ----! I shall bring this evildoer to a strict account, andhe shall be degraded from his office as a criminal and blot upon theChurch, for he has sinned against God, the Church, and his Sovereign!Gabriel Nietzel, name the priest who married you to a Jewess!"

"I can not name him," murmured Nietzel, almost inaudibly. "Sir Count, Iwill be obedient and diligent in your service. I am a wretched sinner, andmust expiate my crime. I shall do penance, too, and will be nothing morethan a tool in your hands. Only have mercy upon me. Let me at least see mywife and child, if I may not speak to them! I only wish to see them, inorder to gain courage and strength for my difficult and dangerousundertaking."

The count reflected for a moment, his eyes fastened upon Gabriel Nietzel'scountenance, whose imploring, anxious expression seemed to touch him.

"I have in my house at Spandow," he said, after a long pause, "a beautifulpainting by Albrecht Duerer. It was, unfortunately, a little injured in thetransportation, and you shall restore it for me. To-morrow morning repairto Spandow, and ask for me. I shall be there, and will myself put thepainting in your charge. Perhaps you will see there another paintingbesides, which will please you, and which, perhaps, is not unknown toyou."

Gabriel Nietzel took the count's proffered hand, and with joyfulimpatience pressed it to his lips. "Sir Count, I will be your servant,your slave, your creature. I will damn my soul for you and suffer thetorture of perpetual flames if you will only give back to me my wife andchild!"

"Master Court Painter," said Schwarzenberg, parodying his words, "I shallmake you a rich and distinguished man. I shall send you to Italy, and youwill enjoy the heavenly fires of the Italian sky, if you will only bringme the sketch ordered, and prove to me that you are in earnest as to itsexecution."

Gabriel Nietzel laughed aloud in the joy of his heart.

"Your highness shall not have long to wait. I will very soon have thesketch at your excellency's disposal."

"We shall see," said the count, with a slight nod of his head. "And nowthat we have understood one another, and you have somewhat recovered yourreason, now for the last time I tell you, you are dismissed!"

Gabriel Nietzel bowed low, and strode through the apartment toward thedoor of entrance, reverentially going backward that he might not turn hisback upon the high-born, all-powerful count. He had almost reached thedoor, when it was opened and a valet appeared, who announced in a loudvoice:

"His honor Count John Adolphus von Schwarzenberg!"

"My son!" exclaimed the count. "He has returned? Where is he? Where?"

"His honor has just gone to his apartments to divest himself of histraveling clothes, but with your highness's permission he will be here ina few minutes."

"Tell the count, that I expect him with impatience," cried the father. Thevalet hurried out, and Gabriel Nietzel was in the act of following him,when Schwarzenberg called him back.

"Do not go out that way now," he said; "my son is coming, and it is notworth while for him to see you. Go through yonder door. It leads to acorridor, and there you will find a small staircase by which you candescend to the court. Go!"

II.--COUNT JOHN ADOLPHUS VON SCHWARZENBERG.

"I think I have distressed and tormented him enough," said the count tohimself; "he will devise some means of gratifying my wishes, and in hisdespair will risk everything in order to obtain his wife and child. It iswell that men have hearts, for they supply the most convenient handles forseizing hold of them and managing them. And for that reason men withoutsusceptible hearts always become rulers, conquerors. Therefore have Ibecome great and powerful, and will ascend yet higher, grow yet moremighty, for I, thank God! I have no heart! I have never been a victim tothe silly vagaries of an enamored heart, never made a fool of myself forany woman; never have I felt my heart moved by any other desire than thatof attaining a pre-eminent position and becoming a great man. Such I havebecome, but I would mount yet higher, and in this--in this that enamoredfool Gabriel Nietzel shall assist me."

The count grew suddenly silent, and looked toward the door. In theantechamber he had heard the sound of a voice familiar and grateful to hisears, a voice which awakened in his breast a rare and unwonted feeling ofjoy and happiness. "My son," he murmured, "yes, it is my son. I reallybelieve that I have a heart at last, for I feel it beat higher just now,and feel that it is a happiness to have a son!"

He hastily crossed the room, and had almost reached the door, when itsuddenly opened and revealed the presence of a tall and slender youngman, dressed in the elegant Spanish garb, such as was worn at the court ofthe German Emperor Ferdinand III.

"Father, dear father!" he cried, with a voice full of tenderness, and withoutstretched arms he sped toward his father to press him to his heart.Count Adam von Schwarzenberg smilingly submitted, and an infinite feelingof satisfaction penetrated his whole being under the warm pressure of hisonly son's embrace. But only one short instant did he yield to thissensation, for he was ashamed of his weakness, and gently extricatedhimself from his son's arms.

"Here you are again, you gadabout and rover!" he said; but he could notsubdue the brighter glistening of his eyes, as they fastened themselvesupon his son's handsome, spirited, and youthful face.

"Yes, here I am again, _cher et aimable pere_," exclaimed the young man,laughing; "but you do me great injustice by calling me a gadabout androver, for, indeed, I have only traveled on most serious and properbusiness, and it strikes me that I am vastly to be feared and honored inmy capacity of imperial treasurer and member of the Aulic council."

"What?" cried Count Adam joyfully, "the Emperor has conferred upon yousuch a high favor and honored you with such lofty titles?"

The young count nodded assent. "In me he has honored my father's son,"said he, "and distinguished me out of veneration and respect for you."

"You are far too modest, my son," cried the count, smiling. "What theEmperor Ferdinand has done for you he did not for your father's son, butin deference to your own merits."

"Please, oh please, let us talk no more on the subject," said the youngman. "You will not succeed in altering my opinion, especially as I had itfrom the exalted mouth of his Imperial Majesty himself, that he gladlydistinguished the son of so noble, gifted, and faithful a servant as CountAdam Schwarzenberg had ever been to the imperial house, and inconsideration thereof bestowed upon him the dignity of imperial treasurer,and nominated him independently of individual merit a member of the Auliccouncil. I beg you to observe, my noble and highly deserving count, thatyour son has fallen heir to his honors without individual merit, whence itnaturally follows that I am a worthless treasurer, and wholly devoid ofmerit as a member of the Aulic council."

"Well," laughed his father, "then I must console you with this, Adolphus,that you are besides that my coadjutor in my office of Grand Master of theKnights of St. John, and that I entertain the fixed determination of soonseeing you share with me the Stadtholdership of the Mark."

"I assure you, I need no consolation whatever!" cried Count AdolphusSchwarzenberg. "I am your son, and that is as much as if I were the fairDanae, and had a shower of gold perpetually poured out upon me."

"You would deceive me," said Count Adam, gently shaking his head. "Youwould have me believe that you are satisfied with being my son, and haveno personal ambition for yourself."

"It is no deception, _cher pere_" laughed the young man. "I really do notgive myself the trouble to have personal ambition beforehand. I behold mymuch-loved father standing in the sunshine of renown, and I quitecomposedly allow a few stray beams from his splendor to alight uponmyself. I would not say, though, that I am wholly devoid of ambition. Ionly avoid talking about it till the time comes."

"My son, the time is come," said Count Adam quickly. "Yes, the time forambition is come with you, too, and to-day we must discuss it at length.But first tell me what news do you bring me from Vienna? Come, let us sitdown, and confer with one another like two grave politicians anddiplomatists." He took his son's arm and led him toward the divan.

"God forbid, Sir Stadtholder, that I, a mere tyro in diplomacy andpolitics, should venture to seat myself at your side," cried CountAdolphus. "No, father, I know my place, and you must indeed permit me totake my station at a reverential distance from you."

He took one of the little gold-embroidered footstools which stood near thedivan and seated himself opposite his father. Count Adam looked upon himwith a proud yet gentle smile, and seemed to have his own pleasure in hisson's handsome and imposing appearance.

"I should like to know whether you resemble me," he said thoughtfully; "Ishould like to know whether I was ever such a lively, jovial young man."

"You are more than that, most respected father," cried his son; "you werehandsome and possessed of irresistible attractions. I know that, for youare still so."

"So, it seems that my son has learned to flatter at the imperial court!"

"No, no; I speak the truth, and I swear that every one who has the goodfortune to be admitted to your presence will confirm my testimony. Youunderstand the art of fascinating men, and once let any one love you, thenyou can never be forgotten. The Emperor Ferdinand spoke of you withgenuine admiration, and Princess Lobkowitz assured me that you were theonly man whom she had ardently and truly loved. And yet they say thatPrincess Lobkowitz has had many admirers and still has."

"Princess Lobkowitz!" repeated Count Adam thoughtfully--"how fine thatsounds, Princess Lobkowitz! Yet I well remember the time when Lobkowitzwas quite a poor, inconsiderable count, who esteemed himself peculiarlyhappy when I lent him some of my pocket money, which, by the bye, I neversaw again. We were both at that time pages at the court of EmperorFerdinand I, and swore eternal friendship. But how vain are such oaths! Iafterward left the imperial court and came to the court of Cleves, andthence here to Prussia. I have restlessly labored, and may well say that Ihave wielded the helm of state in this country for twenty years, and--amstill nothing but plain Count Schwarzenberg! The little, insignificantCount Lobkowitz, on the other hand, has now become a Prince through theEmperor's favor, as have also Eggenberg, Liechtenstein, and Fuerstenberg."

"You shall be a Prince, too, father," said Count Adolphus softly. "Yes,without doubt, you have only to hint your wish to receive the title ofPrince, and the Emperor Ferdinand will gladly remunerate you in that way,if he first sees his own desires fulfilled through you."

The count started, and cast an inquisitive, questioning look upon his son."I thank you, Adolphus," said he, "you have led back our conversation, orrather, my lord treasurer, our conference, to the subject in point, in amanner as tender as diplomatic. Yes, the question is, first of all, tolearn what news you bring for me from his Majesty, and what orders theEmperor has to give me."

"First of all, _cher pere_, the Emperor wishes that every possibleobstruction be interposed to prevent the Electoral Prince's marriage withthe Princess of the Palatinate, and that, if practicable, the ElectoralPrince be deterred from forming any matrimonial connection. It wouldgreatly complicate affairs if the Electoral Prince should chance to haveoffspring soon, and thereby outwardly give more firmness and durability tothe house of Brandenburg."

The count's eyes flashed upon his son's countenance, which still preservedits placid, innocent expression. "Who told you that?" said he, "Who spokesuch strange, mysterious words? Not the Emperor, no, he can not have saidthat!"

"No, but the Emperor's most confidential adviser, _mio padre amato_, thevenerable father confessor and Jesuit, Signor Silvio. By the way, I regardhim as a man turned serpent, and would avoid exposing a shoeless heel tohim. But one thing is certain, that he has the Emperor's ear not only inthe confessional, but in the council chamber as well, and what he says isjust as good as if the Emperor himself said it. For the rest, they affirmat the imperial court that he is a sorcerer, and can look through men'seyes straight into their hearts and decipher what is therein as plainlyand distinctly as if it was written on parchment in German text."

"I believe it is so," murmured the count. "I believe he has read into myheart, too. But further, further, my son! What more did Father Silvio sayto you?"

"He spoke much of the weak and uncertain condition of the Electoral houseof Brandenburg, which he said rested upon only two lives, and would beextinct if the Electoral Prince Frederick William should perish by asudden death."

The count started, and a gray pallor overspread his face. His son,absorbed in his own discourse, observed it not and continued: "I venturedmeanwhile to differ from the wise father, and reminded him that sevencousins and blood relations were still in existence, to give permanence tothe Elector's family, and thereby lessen very greatly the weakness of theBrandenburg-Hohenzollerns. But Father Silvio smiled almost compassionatelyat this remark of mine, and said in a tone of lofty superiority: 'Youngman, your father will be a better judge of this; only repeat my words tohim: that the Emperor will not admit the claims of the collateral branchesof the Electoral house, and if unfortunately the Electoral Prince ofBrandenburg should die without descendants, he will consider the ElectoralMark as an unincumbered fief, which the Emperor of Germany, in theplenitude of his power and as an act of free grace, might bestow onanother prince.'"

Count Adam Schwarzenberg sprang up, and for a moment his eyes rested witha penetrating expression upon his son's countenance. Then he turned andbegan to move violently to and fro. Now it was his son's turn to fix hiseyes piercingly upon _him_. When the count turned again, however, therewas no trace of excitement visible on the young man's countenance, andwith a friendly smile he looked at his father. Count Adam stepped close upto him, and laid his hand on his son's shoulder.

"You did not remind wise Father Silvio, then," he asked, "that the ElectorGeorge William has, besides his son, two daughters? That there are twoElectoral Princesses--Charlotte Louise and the young Sophie Hedwig?"

"No, father," replied Count Adolphus carelessly, "no, I did not. I deemedthat superfluous, because in the Brandenburg Electoral house women have noright to the succession. The Salic law exists here, does it not?"

"As if laws could not be altered!" cried Count Adam. "As if the Emperorwere not here to give new laws! My son, let us speak openly and candidlyto one another, and answer me one question: On what terms are you with thePrincess Charlotte Louise?"

The young man started, and for a moment a deep blush suffused his cheeks."I do not understand you, father. What do you mean? On what terms should Ibe with the Princess?"

"John Adolphus, you understand me well enough, and know what I mean,"returned Count Schwarzenberg smiling. "When I ask on what terms you arewith the Princess Charlotte Louise, I mean by that, what progress have youmade in her good graces?"

An almost imperceptible smile flitted across the young count's visage."Well," he said, "the ladies of the Electoral house have ever been mostcondescending in their manner to me, Princess Charlotte Louise no lessthan her mother and sister, and, as I have done nothing to forfeit theirfavor, I hope that upon my return they will receive me as graciously asthey dismissed me before I left home."

"My son," said Count Adam seriously, "you answer me evasively, and that isnot well. We two are made to support each other, and to go hand in hand inthe difficult path which lies before us. For you know as well as I do thatour safety is imperiled when the Electoral Prince again makes hisappearance at court, and we will henceforth find many stones of stumblingin our way."

"But my wise and puissant father will remove all such obstructions," criedthe son, with a merry laugh. "Let the Electoral Prince throw ever so manystones in our way, we can pick them up, and your honor will findopportunity to hurl them back at the little Prince, the last scion of hishouse."

"I shall find opportunity, and, by heavens, I will make use of it."

"And if my gracious father can or will make use of me in picking up thestones, or maybe in throwing them, I am most heartily at his service. Yourhonor needs only to direct. I shall aim well, and hope to hit the mark."

"My son, verily, you are a great diplomatist," cried Schwarzenberg, "andmany an one who esteems himself an old adept in this art might takelessons from you. How cleverly you managed to evade the question I put toyou, and lead the conversation into a different channel! But I must recurto my question, and, since you will throw stones subject to my direction,then, my son, I tell you that your relations with the Princess CharlotteLouise may become a most effective missile against the Electoral Prince,which, if you aim it accurately, may inflict a deadly blow upon thePrince. Therefore, my fine son, answer my question honestly: On what termsare you with the Princess Charlotte Louise?"

A cloud of displeasure flitted across the young count's lofty and openbrow, and his cheerful countenance became overshadowed with gloom.

"My God!" he said, "what on earth has the Princess to do with politics?"

"A great deal, my son. Let me remind you of Father Silvio's words, whichyou yourself reported to me. The father had me informed that in case ofthe Electoral Prince's dying without heirs, his Majesty would notrecognize the claims of the other branches of the house of Brandenburg,but would consider the Electoral Mark as a vacant fief, which he mightbestow elsewhere as matter of favor. The simplest and most natural thingwill be, if there is no longer any son living, to pass the right ofsuccession to the daughter, and for the Emperor to declare the eldestdaughter of the Elector George William rightful successor, and to transmitthe Electoral Mark Brandenburg to herself and her husband as an act ofgrace."

"Those are very great and very far-seeing plans," murmured the young man,with downcast eyes.

"But plans which may be realized," interposed his father hastily--"planswhich you have very maturely weighed in your prudent brain, for--I shallanswer my own question myself--for you are on very good terms withPrincess Charlotte Louise. You have calculated very wisely and verycorrectly. The Princess loves you, and may bring you an electorship as abridal gift."

"God forbid that I should play a criminal game with the Princess's heart!"cried Count Adolphus, in tones louder and more energetic than he had yetemployed. "You accuse me falsely, most gracious sir. It has never comeinto my mind to speculate on such a bridal gift, or to make of love acalculation."

Count Adam gazed with an expression of painful astonishment upon theexcited countenance of his son. "Unhappy boy, you love the Princess,then?" he asked.

"Yes," exclaimed the young man vehemently--"yes, I love her! I should loveher were she a simple village maiden. I should seek to win her were she ofobscure and humble parentage, if she could present me with nothing but herheart, her affectionate nature, her charming self. Learn now, father, onwhat terms I stand with the Princess: I love her, love her passionately!"

"Ah, my son, how well this enthusiasm becomes you!" said his father. "Howhappy the Princess would be if she could see you with those fiery glancesflashing from your large bright eyes! My son, you will surpass me, for youhave one great advantage over me, you have received from Nature a gloriousendowment denied to me; you have a tender heart! You either feel glowinglove or--maybe simulate, and act it to the life! We will not discuss thisfurther; I only repeat it, you are destined to surpass me. You love thePrincess Charlotte Louise! I thank you for this one confession, but add toit a second, Adolphus. Tell me whether the Princess returns your love?"

"I have not ventured to put this question to her," replied Count Adolphus,with downcast eyes. "The Princess is so high above me, is so pure andvirtuous, that it would be a sin to tempt her innocence and virtue by theavowal of an unsanctioned love!"

"My son!" exclaimed the count, smiling, "you are a pattern of discretionand modesty. You amaze, you delight me. You have not ventured, and willnot venture to declare your love to the Princess?"

"No, father, at least, not so long as it is an unsanctioned love--so longas I do not know whether it has your approval, and through you theElector's."

"You would step surely, you would engage in no undertaking that does notpromise good results! Ah, I understand now--I comprehend all now. I havean irresistible desire to embrace you, and I know you will pardon yourfather for this one ebullition of tenderness. Come to my heart, my great,my admirable son!"

He flung his arms around his son's neck and imprinted a warm kiss upon hislips.

"Count John Adolphus Schwarzenberg," he said then, "with this kiss I giveyou my consent to woo the Princess Charlotte Louise! With this kiss Ipromise so to work upon and bend the Elector's heart, that he will giveyou the Princess's hand, and agree to your union."

"My dear father, you open indeed to me the gate of paradise. But this gatehas two wings, and if I would gain admittance, both wings must open tome."

"Oh, you mean the Electress? She will certainly be very much opposed tosuch a union, for she has a proud and willful heart, over which no one hasany influence except the Electoral Prince, and he, indeed, will not usehis influence in our behalf. Well, there is nothing for it but to opposeforce to force, and to constrain the dear lady to give her consent. Toemploy such coercive measures is your affair, my son!"

"You empower me to do so, father? You will not refuse me your support? Youwill not disavow my acts?"

"I empower you to do everything you think needful, and you will find me afaithful ally, for I recognize joyfully in you my trusty coadjutor, andsee that we may count upon each other."

"And you will do well in this, my son," said Count Adam Schwarzenberg,with a hearty pressure of the hand. "All that I do for myself is also donefor you, all that I obtain is for your profit and advantage. You are myheir, to you will descend all my earthly possessions, my name, my renown,my dignities and offices, my money and estates."

"_Cher pere_" cried the young man, "let us not speak of such solemnthings. I hope that it will be a long time yet ere I enter upon that greatand sad inheritance."

"I hope so, too," said Count Adam, with animation of manner. "I wouldleave you _all_ in perfect condition, and to effect this much labor is yetrequired. I have set myself a mighty task, and it is yet far from itsaccomplishment."

"And yet you have already conducted and executed matters so grandly, soadmirably, father! You have no idea with what rapture they think of youand your performances at the imperial court. Emperor Ferdinand spoke ofyou as his most trusted and beloved servant, and Father Silvio called youa lamp of the faith and a faithful son of the Church, through whom manywill yet be saved."

"Yes, many shall yet be brought within the ark of safety by my means!"cried Count Adam, in a lively manner. "I know what I purpose, I know thegreat aims after which I have striven for twenty years with intrepidspirit, with ardor never to be chilled. My son, with you I make no secretof my aims, and you must know them, that you may stand unflinching at myside. It is true, I am ambitious. I thirst for fame; it is true, I havelabored for myself and forwarded my own personal interests as much as Icould. My aims, however, are not restricted to these private interests,they are higher, nobler! I am the faithful servant and subject of myEmperor and lord; I am the believing and zealous son of our holy Church.To the Emperor and the Church belong the fruits of my striving and myenergy, and to promote the greatness and consideration of both is theultimate object of all my labors and all my schemes."

"And I, most gracious father, will take my station firmly at your side,"said Count Adolphus fervently. "You will ever find in me an attentivepupil, eager to learn."

"We have both a great mission to fulfill," exclaimed Count Adam, "and itis well for us sometimes to place this clearly before our eyes, in orderto be ever mindful of it, and never to forget it even in the pursuance ofprivate ends. You, too, remember this, my son, and act accordingly. To theEmperor and the Church be all our services dedicated! To render theEmperor great and mighty, to strengthen his consideration throughout theGerman Empire, is and shall be my aim as a statesman. To extendcontinually the power and dominion of the Catholic religion is and shallbe my task as a Christian, as a son of the Church, within whose pale aloneis salvation. God himself has chosen me for his tool, else how would ithave been possible that the bigoted, reformed Elector should have selectedme for his first and mightiest minister? God wills that through me theinfluence of the Holy Roman See and the German Emperor be promoted andadvanced; therefore has he caused me, the subject of the Emperor, anAustrian born, to become the servant of the Elector of Brandenburg. Butthe servant has become master, and the Catholic Austrian is Stadtholder inthe Mark, the almighty minister in the land of the heretic. It is so,because through him this land is to be led back to the true faith and theEmperor, because through him is to be re-established the endangeredsupremacy of the Emperor of Germany! The Protestant Electors would haveexalted themselves against the power of Emperor and empire; with the helpof the Swedes they would have cut up the Holy Roman Empire into a numberof free, independent States, great and small, where Protestants,Reformers, and Lutherans would have enjoyed as great consideration as theCatholics, and over which the Emperor would no longer have exercisedcontrol. The Protestant Elector of the Palatinate was to have been changedinto a King, waving his scepter over Catholic Bohemia, and in place of thelittle Elector of Brandenburg was to have arisen a mighty Prince, who wasto have broken the power of the German Emperor in the north, and becomethe chief and center of Protestant Germany! To that end were they leaguedwith the Swedes, to that end was King Gustavus Adolphus to have furnishedhelp to his cousins and brothers-in-law. But the fates were against them!In the battle of the White Mountain the Count Palatine lost his Bohemianthrone, in the battle of Luetzen the Swedish King his life, and in thepeace of Prague the Swedes and other enemies of the Emperor a powerfulally in the Elector of Brandenburg! It was I who alienated the Electorfrom the Swedes, who made him again the obedient vassal of his Emperor andSovereign. And it shall be I who will make the Mark Brandenburgimperialist again! For the limbs accommodate themselves to the head, andif the Prince acknowledges himself a professed Catholic, his subjects willsoon follow suit."

"What! most gracious father, is it possible that the Elector GeorgeWilliam--"

"Hush, hush, my son! who says anything about the Elector George William?Who thinks of the decaying tree, which can no longer bear fruit, when hebeholds at its side a young, vigorous tree laden with blossoms, rich forfuture harvests? My son, I herewith give you my consent to woo the love ofthe Princess Charlotte Louise, but I make one condition which you mustsolemnly swear to respect: none but a Catholic becomes the wife of my sonJohn Adolphus."

"None but a Catholic becomes my wife!" cried the young count. "I solemnlygive you my oath to that effect, father."

"And you actually suppose that the Emperor will bestow upon me the samefavor he has conferred upon Fuerstenberg, Lobkowitz, and Liechtenstein?"

"I am empowered to promise it prospectively, most gracious sir. The houseof Austria is grateful, and forgets not that already your father beforeyou rendered her important services, attending the Emperor with credit inhis wars against the Turks; that you yourself have been through a wholelifetime true and unswerving in your fidelity to the Emperor's service;that the Stadtholder in the Mark, and the Grand Master of the Order of St.John has been ever mindful of his duty to the Emperor."

"I must and shall be ever called a good Imperialist," cried the countwarmly, "and prefer the Emperor's to the Elector's service.[20] BethlenGabor, Prince of Hungary, has well said that the Elector and I are uponone ship, and that my fortune depends upon the Elector's fortune; but heshall be proved to have been in error, and we prefer making our voyage inour own little bark to take passage in the Electoral ship."

"Yes, father, that shall we!" cried the young count joyfully. "You sit atthe helm and give management and direction to the boat. For my part, Ishall so hoist and unfurl the sails that we catch the breeze and boundswiftly forward!"

"Do so, my son, and always heed the wind as it blows across from theapartments of the Electress and her princesses, as well as from the robbernests and dens of the squires and waylayers of the Mark, and from thefortresses and garrisons. We, too, my son, voyage together in the sameboat; I am the pilot, you unfurl the sails, and upon our flag inmysterious and invisible colors is inscribed this device: GoodImperialists, good Catholics!"

"Yes, good Imperialists and good Catholics," replied the young countenergetically. "But, dearest father, let us add besides, quite softly,good Schwarzenbergians!"

"Yes, my son, that will we. For, in addition to those great and holyinterests, to keep one's own interests a little in view is manly andjustifiable. My heavens! life would have been perfectly hateful andabominable in this dirty, cheerless Berlin if we had not seen above us aglittering star, to which we could look up when all was so dismal herebelow, which shone upon our path and cheered us when we feared to sink inthe mud and mire. This star, my son, do you know its name?"

"Its name is Fame, its name is Love, _cher pere_."

"Well, for the sake of fame I will put up with love, foolish dreamer. Youmay bring it on board our boat as ballast. But if a storm should come andnecessity impel, we shall throw our ballast overboard."

"Dear father, if you do that, you will throw overboard likewise myhappiness and life!" exclaimed Count Adolphus warmly. "If you call loveballast, then forget not, father, that in this ballast your son's heart isincluded."

"Enamored fool, you really have a heart? Do you believe so?"

"I believe so, most noble father, because I feel it, because--"

A hasty knock, thrice repeated, at the door of the antechamber interruptedhim, and in obedience to the Stadtholder's summons, the lackey Balthasarhurriedly entered.

"Most gracious sir," he said, "it is a courier from the Commandant vonRochow at Spandow, who desires to speak with your lordship on most urgentbusiness."

"I am going, most gracious father, I am going," cried the young count,speedily rising. "I can no longer lay claim to the Stadtholder's precioustime."

"And you have very important affairs of your own to attend to, have younot?" asked his father. "You have been long enough diplomatist andpolitician, and that curious thing, whose possession you boast, the heart,will now assert its rights?"

The young man laughed and pressed the count's extended hand tenderly tohis lips. Then he nodded once more affectionately to his father, andbounded lightly through the room to the side door, through which hevanished. Count Adam Schwarzenberg looked thoughtfully after his son."Strange!" he murmured. "Is he acting a comedy, or is it truth? Does heprudently pretend to have a heart, or has he one in reality? Well, nevermind. The courier from Spandow!"

In answer to the count's loud call a huntsman in dirty, dusty uniform madehis appearance from the antechamber, and, making a military salute,remained standing near the door.

"I crave pardon, your excellency, but I have no letters or dispatches. TheCommandant von Rochow sent me with a verbal message, and entreatsforgiveness in that haste allowed him no time for writing. I have only toannounce that, even at the instant of my departure, the Electoral Princewas making his solemn entry into Spandow. All ranks and conditions ofpeople from the region round about had joined the Electoral Prince, andfollowed him, in carriages, on horseback, and on foot. The commandant wasgreatly amazed to witness so much pomp, and hastened to array himself inparade uniform in order to go and meet the Electoral Prince with his corpsof officers."

"Yes," repeated the count, when the courier had taken leave, "yes, this isa welcome message and by ----! I shall derive profit from it."

"Ho, Balthasar, Balthasar! Is the commander of police in the antechamber?"

"Your highness, he has been there an hour already."

"Bid him come in. There you are, Master Brandt! Well, listen! Send allyour secret friends and emissaries through the city, privately inform thecitizens, the magistrates, the merchants, the whole inhabitants in a body,that the Electoral Prince will arrive here in from three to four hours,and that it would surely be a right great pleasure to the Elector and hiswife if they would prepare him a public reception, and go a little way onthe road to meet him. Say, moreover, that it would assuredly prepare avery great joy for the Electoral Prince if they would illuminate the citythis evening, and if this were done voluntarily, and without suggestion,the Electoral Prince would be forced to admit how very glad the people ofBerlin are to welcome him, and how much they hope for from his return.Excite the populace properly, that their houses be brightly illuminated,and that they may give great demonstrations of joy. Dispatch your agentseverywhere, and show me to-day for once that you know how to execute myorders punctually, and are a worthy successor of my dear, recentlydeceased Dietrich, your predecessor in office."

"Your excellency, I shall do all that lies in my power, and I doubt notbut that I shall succeed in deserving your honor's approbation. I onlyventure to remark, that many of the citizens will find it exceedinglydifficult to procure the candles or lamps needed for the illumination, forthe poverty and distress are very great, and it would perhaps be well toaid the people and furnish them with the candles for illuminating."

"Do so, Master Brandt," cried the count, smiling. "I fully empower you topurchase tallow candles for distribution, to the amount of a hundreddollars; only, take care that the people actually light and burn them up,and do not consume them as dainties these hard times. And one thing more,Brandt! It would be pleasant to me if you would excite a few peopleagainst me and his highness the Elector, while you tell them various badthings about me, and attribute it as a crime to the Elector that he is sodevoted to me. You might then urge on to the palace such people as youhave stirred up and goaded, so that, as soon as the Electoral Princearrives, they might shout with loud distinct voices: 'Long live theElectoral Prince! Long live our savior and deliverer! Down with theCatholics. Away with Schwarzenberg!' You can at least persuade ten orfifteen to do this, and promise them that they shall have money to buy agood drink if they shout right loudly and clearly. Well, why do you smileso all of a sudden, man?"

"Pardon me, your highness, but when I entered upon my office, four weeksago, your excellency urged it upon me as a stringent duty to report trulyto your honor, not only what happens, but what is the mood of the peoplehere. Does this command always have validity, your excellency?"

"It has validity for the whole term of your service, Master Brandt, or,rather, you will only remain chief of police so long as I am convincedthat you always report to me the full truth in all things, withoutreserve. Speak! What would you say?"

"Your highness, I would only say that it is not necessary to stir up thepeople to give utterance to such infamous and disrespectful outcriesagainst your excellency. They will do so of their own accord, and if Ishould not pick up the first who raised such a cry, have him arrested, andcarried off, then immediately would twenty fellows be found, without anyprompting from me, to shout exactly the words which your excellency wouldgladly hear."

"You mean the words: 'Away with the Catholics! Down with Schwarzenberg'?"

"I beg your honor's pardon, but those are the words I mean."

The count laughed clearly. "Well," he said, "so much the better! We willbe spared then some trouble and expense, which is always a very pleasantthing. But hear, Sir Master of Police! If we let the fellows shout to-day,it does not follow that we shall not administer fitting punishmentto-morrow. Mark the shouters very narrowly, and to-morrow, when themerriment is over, have them arrested and thrust into prison for a coupleof weeks!"

The chief of police shrugged his shoulders. "I crave pardon, yourexcellency; that is no punishment for the rabble in these days. They areglad when they are put away at Oxenhead, or here in the castle prison,receiving food and lodgings free of cost, and many a one, who formerlylived in honor and affluence, would to-day be gladly found guilty of somefault, for the sake of being arrested and supported in prison at theexpense of the state."

"Well, then we will not gratify the shouting mob by punishing them withimprisonment, but cause the jailer to administer a sound cudgeling to eachone of them, and then let the fellows go again. Make good speed now,Brandt, for I expect the Electoral Prince here in a few hours, and if thepeople are not properly notified, he will make his entry before they havetaken off their rags and donned their holiday attire. Make haste, and letus have this evening a right brilliant illumination. Farewell, MasterBrandt!"

The chief of police departed, and by a loud whistle Schwarzenberg calledthe lackey to him.

"One of the grooms must take horse," was his command.

"He must ride out on the road to Spandow about a quarter of a mile. Therehe is to halt, and wait until the Electoral Prince arrives with hisattendants. As soon as he has seen him, he is to come back at full speedand make the announcement to me."

"All necessary preliminaries are arranged," said Schwarzenberg, when hefound himself again alone. "Now let the Electoral Prince come on, we areready to receive him. There will be a hard struggle, but I have beenvictorious over all my enemies for twenty years, and shall probablyconquer the little Electoral Prince too! Now a hurried toilet, and thento the Elector, to open the skirmish in his neighborhood! Ah, we shallsee, my young Prince! For you shouts the rabble of Berlin, for me speaksthe Elector! We shall see which of us two has built upon the sand!"

III.--THE HOME-COMING.

"May I be so bold as to come in, most noble sir?" asked CountSchwarzenberg, as he opened the door leading into the Electoral cabinetand thrust in his head, encircled by a hundred beautifully arranged curls.

"Behold, there is Adam Schwarzenberg!" cried Elector George William,wheeling his chair from the writing table. "Why do you ask, count, sinceyou know that you are always privileged to enter unannounced? Come closer,and be heartily welcome!"

And the Elector leaned both his arms upon the wooden aims of his chair,making an effort to rise. But the count was at his side in a moment,gently forcing him back into his seat, while at the same time he half bentone knee and imprinted a kiss upon the Elector's right hand.

"If your grace treats me with such formality, and rises on my account,then I must believe that you love me no longer," he said, with soft,insinuating voice. "But you well know, beloved master, that I could notlive without your love, and that existence itself would seem gloomy anddark to me if the star of your favor and love should cease to shine uponit."

"Live, my Adam, live merrily, then, and joyously, for you well know that Ilove you," replied George William, nodding to the count in most friendlymanner. "And how could it be otherwise, when I know that I can depend uponyour love, and that you are the only one truly interested in my not beingcalled away yet awhile, and in having me tarry a little longer upon earth.Come, my friend, sit down. Draw up your armchair close to my side--no,opposite to me, that I may look at you. I love dearly to behold yourhandsome, noble face, and then console myself with the thought that, afterall, the Elector of Brandenburg can not be such a pitiful little Prince,since such a proud, distinguished lord as Count Schwarzenberg is hisminister."

"Say his servant, his slave, his humble subject, most gracious sir! Yes,look at me, my much-loved master, and read in my countenance that I amdevoted to you with my whole heart and soul. Ah! who knows how much longeryou will read that in my face, and how soon it may come to pass that poorAdam Schwarzenberg will be thrust aside and no longer find a place in yourheart! Oh, dearest sir, when I think of that, I feel perfectly wretchedand inconsolable, and I would rather hide my head and weep and mourn, thango smilingly to meet the joyful countenance of him who will come tosupplant me in your affections!"

"Nobody shall do that, Adam, and I know not, indeed, who could be boldenough even to attempt it."

"Most gracious sir, the Electoral Prince will attempt it! He who, when amere little child, was my opponent. He, who has been brought up by hismother and other relatives to mistrust me. He will grudge me the smallestplace in his father's heart, and will do everything to contest it withme!"

"But he will not succeed, be assured of that, my Adam, he will not succeedin it. I only know too well that in you I have a faithful, devotedservant, in the Electoral Prince a rebellious and refractory son; thatwith you all is bound up in my life; with him all in my death!"

"Oh, no, your highness, no, it is impossible that the Electoral Princecould be so heartless and degenerate as to wish for his father's death.No, I must take the part of the Electoral Prince against you. You accusehim falsely, most gracious sir; he surely loves you, and it is only hisambition and youthful arrogance that sometimes lead him to do what is notright, and what surely he would not do if he only reflected better. Out ofyouthful presumption he undertook, despite your commands to the contrary,to remain longer at The Hague, and even to send back the Chamberlain vonSchlieben, whom you had dispatched to him with strict orders to bring himhome. And only his stormy, boundless ambition is at fault now in inducinghim to appear here in rather an unbecoming manner. But you must not beangry with him for it, dear sir, and on that very account have I come toyou to-day, to beg and implore you most earnestly not to admit anyfeelings of resentment into your mind this day, which is to restore to youthe Electoral Prince."

"He is coming, then, at last?" cried the Elector, breathing again. "He hasfinally had the goodness to heed our oft-repeated commands, andcondescended to return home? But this return is, as I feel, likely enoughto prepare renewed vexation for me, and in your magnanimity you come to meonly to sweeten a little the pill which my son gives me to swallow. Speakout openly, Adam, and keep back nothing! What is it? What has theElectoral Prince done?"

"Oh, your highness, I am convinced that he means nothing bad, and has nodesign of vexing you. He naturally rejoices greatly on his return to hisfuture dominions, and consequently enjoys the congratulations of hisfuture subjects, and gladly allows them to receive him with demonstrationsof delight."

"Do they so, his future subjects?" inquired the Elector, and his hands,swollen by gout, grasped convulsively the arms of his easychair. "Do theywelcome him with rejoicings as their future sovereign?"

"Yes, most gracious sir, it is plainly to be seen how closely the peoplecling to the electoral house of Hohenzollern, and how they sympathize inevery fortunate event occurring in that family. From the moment that theElectoral Prince crossed the boundaries of the Mark, the inhabitants ofevery village and town have joyfully poured forth to meet him; his journeyis a genuine triumphal procession, and the reigning Sovereign of thecountry could not be received with more honor and delight than is theyoung Electoral Prince!"

"Me, their reigning Sovereign, me, they did not receive with rejoicings,"exclaimed the Elector, whose face grew crimson with excitement andpassion. "My journey was anything but a triumphal procession, resemblingmuch more a funeral, so quiet and still was everything on my way. Nowheredid I hear a joyful welcome, nowhere did the people come forth to meet me,and as at Koenigsberg they permitted me to depart without greeting oracclamation, so here at Berlin they allowed me to enter without a sign ofwelcome or congratulation. I will now confess to you alone that I was muchmortified by this, although I did not complain of it. I comforted myselfby reflecting that the times were bad and depressing, and that in theirafflictions the people could not even present a glad, cheerful countenanceto the father of their country. But now it falls to my lot to hear thatthey _can_ make merry and rejoice, and that they have only saved up thejoy in their hearts to bestow it upon the return home of my son and heir."

"Pardon, your highness, but I believe that we accuse the poor peoplewrongfully if we imagine that they are now acting thus of their own freemotion, when they were so quiet on the arrival of their beloved Sovereign.No, the poor, unhappy people would have been equally silent at this timeif they had not been stirred up to make noisy demonstrations of joy, ifthey had not been paid for it. It is otherwise wholly incredible and notto be thought of that the populace should have prepared such a triumph forthe young home-returning lord. It is plainly to be seen that all has beensettled and arranged beforehand. For it is not merely the offscourings ofthe streets, but burghers, magistrates, and officials, who have extended awelcome to the Electoral Prince. At Spandow, for example, all thecitizens, with the magistracy at their head, issued from the town to paytheir respects to him--yes, even Commandant von Rochow has found itnecessary to join in the universal rejoicings, and has ridden out with hisofficers in their dress uniforms to do honor to the Prince's arrival. Hereat Berlin, too, your own residence, all is uproar and excitement. They areputting on their holiday suits, and making ready to meet the ElectoralPrince. That proves quite clearly that his speedy approach to the city hasbeen already announced to the citizens, and communicated to themagistrates even before any tidings of the sort had reached your highnessor myself, the Stadtholder in the Mark. For as soon as I obtained thisintimation from Colonel von Rochow, I hastened hither to bring to yourhighness the glad news of your son's return home, and on the way I wasstopped by whole crowds of festive men and women hastening to the suburbSpandow, to plant themselves near the Pomegranate Bridge and along themeadow dike.[21] Indeed, it strikes me that I even saw some gentlemen ofmunicipal authority going the same way in full official dress."

"And you suffered this?" asked the Elector angrily. "You allowed them toprepare such an insult and affront as to do for the son what they have notfound needful to do for the father? But I will not bear it; I shall not behumiliated by my own son. You are the Stadtholder in the Mark, you mustprovide against their offering me any cause of vexation. Send out yourofficers, Sir Stadtholder, to clear the streets of this gaping multitude,send the magistrates home, and order the people to remain quietly withintheir houses, to do their work and not to lounge about the streets."

"My much-loved lord and Elector, I sue for a favor in behalf of your mostfaithful servant, your poor Adam. I beg you out of consideration for me toretract these stringent orders, for I should be ruined if I were toexecute them. Throughout the whole Mark, yea, throughout all Germany, theywould raise the cry of murder against me, would everywhere blazon it, thatCount Schwarzenberg is so inimically disposed toward the Electoral Princethat he would not even grant him an honorable reception on his return homeafter an absence of three years. Oh, most gracious sir, you will notincrease yet more the number of my enemies and opposers, you will notexcite public opinion yet more against me, and render it more favorablydisposed to the Electoral Prince! If we now forcibly restrain thesetestimonials of pleasure on the part of the people, then will it be saidthat I misuse my power and am jealous of the Electoral Prince; that I amseeking to thrust him aside from his exalted position. If, on the otherhand, it is seen how joyfully I acquiesce in the Electoral Prince'sreception with acclamations everywhere, then will they be forced toacknowledge that it is not I who meet the young Prince with hatred, butthat I willingly concede to him all honors and triumphs."

"It is true," muttered the Elector, "they would surely suspect and accuseyou, and it would not mend matters to say that I myself gave orders thatthe Electoral Prince be allowed to come home quietly."

"God forbid that such a thing should be said!" cried Schwarzenberg. "No,rather let the whole world censure and condemn me--rather let it be saidthat I have acted as the spiteful and unworthy enemy of the ElectoralPrince--than that they should dare even to cast one shadow upon my belovedmaster's heart. What matters it that they calumniate me, if they onlyventure not to attack and suspect your highness?"

"They shall not slander and suspect you, my Adam," said the Elector,offering him his hand. "For your sake let us suffer the Electoral Princeto come hither in triumph. But we will remember it against him, and ourlove for him will not be thereby increased."

"Yet I entreat your highness to receive your son kindly and graciously,"pleaded Schwarzenberg with insinuating voice. "It is better, yourhighness, to try to chain him to you by goodness and love than bystrictness and severity to repel him yet more, and force him to join theparty of your opponents. It is a great and powerful party, and I well knowthat it is their plan to place the Electoral Prince at their head, andthrough him to attain their ends."

"And what are their ends?" asked the Elector, with lowering brow.

The count bent over closer to his ear, as if he feared letting even thewalls hear what he had to say.

"Their ends are a transference of the government, and when this iseffected a revolt from Emperor and empire, and a league with the Swedesand all Protestant German princes against Emperor and empire."

"The transference of the government? That means an insurrection, arevolution. They would hurl me from my throne and ensconce my son there?"

"They hope that in your distress you will do, gracious sir, what yourblessed father did."

"Abdicate!" cried the Elector angrily. "Abdicate in favor of my son?"

"In favor of the Electoral Prince, who has grown up in Holland to become apromising Prince, a general of the future, a brilliant leader of theProtestant Church, and of whom his followers say that he will be a secondGustavus Adolphus!"

"A second plague--a second source of danger to myself!" screamed theElector, striking with his clinched fist upon the arm of his chair. "Itwas not enough that my brother-in-law Gustavus Adolphus brought me intotrouble and distress, and caused the Emperor's wrath to flame forthagainst me, so that I was really afraid that I would share the fate of mycousin the Margrave of Jaegerndorf, whom the Emperor put under his ban,declaring that he had forfeited his margraviate, and giving it over as afeudal tenure to Prince Liechstenstein! I was only saved then from a liketerrible fate by your intercession and fidelity! It was you who, by youraddress and eloquence, softened the Emperor's resentment against me,induced him to pardon me, and afterward brought about the peace of Prague,which reconciled the Emperor to me. Yet it was not enough to have gonethrough those times of anxiety and distress, they must be now renewedthrough my only son! In him am I to find a second Gustavus Adolphus, toplunge me into new perils and bring down upon me the Emperor's avengingwrath? But it shall not be--I solemnly swear, it shall not be! I will_not_ involve my land in new dangers and calamities of war. I will _not_depart from my neutrality. I _will_ have peace--peace with the Emperor,peace for my poor people, and for their unhappy Prince! But I shall notact as my father did, and prepare a pleasure for my son by resigningsovereignty and rule in my lifetime and becoming the servant and subjectof my own son! Before me shall he bow--me shall he acknowledge to be hislord so long as I live, and never while I breathe shall I cease to lay tohis charge these hours of pain and vexation. I am Elector and ruler, andhe is nothing further than my son and subject, my successor when I die,but not my coregent while I live! Count Adam Schwarzenberg, I charge youto stand courageously at my side, to remain zealous in my service, and todirect your attention especially to unraveling all the arts and wiles, theplots and schemes of my son and his abettors; to give me alwaysinformation on these points, to keep nothing in the background, and not toconceal anything from me merely to save me from vexation. Will you promiseand swear so to manage and act, my Adam?"

"I swear and promise it, and in affirmation will my Prince allow me togive him my hand upon it?" asked Schwarzenberg, laying his own right handin the outstretched one of the Elector. "You will find in me a trueservant and guardian of your sacred person and your throne, and he whowould supplant or harm you must first step over the corpse of CountSchwarzenberg! But now, most gracious sir, I beseech you not to beoverpowered by your feelings of indignation, and to be amiable andcondescending toward the home-coming Electoral Prince; for it is sometimesvery necessary to wear a mask and assume an appearance of harmlessness andunconcern in order the better to fathom the designs of one's enemies, andto make them feel secure, that they may the more easily betray themselves."

"Yes, I will do so," said George William, sighing. "I will swallow down myrage, although it would be a relief to me to vent it a little, and to showmy son that I know him and am not deceived by him. But what noise is thatwithout, and who is knocking so violently at the door?"

This door was now impetuously torn open, and the Electress Sophy Elizabethentered, with beaming eyes and features lighted up by joy, while on highshe held an open letter in her hand.

"George!" she exclaimed--"George, our son is coming! Our dear FrederickWilliam is coming!"

"Well, I rather think he ought to have been here a half year ago," growledthe Elector, "and we have been expecting him several months already."

"But he is here now, my husband, he is actually here now. Only see what agood, affectionate son he is! He has halted at the inn of the Spandowsuburb, merely to forewarn us of his arrival. It was not enough for himthat he had sent us a messenger with a verbal communication, no, he mustsend us a written salutation, and such kind, cordial words as he haswritten. There, read, my husband, just read!"

She handed the paper to the Elector, but he did not take it.

"Is the letter directed to me?" he asked.

"No, to me, to his mother he wrote, because he knew how happy it wouldmake me, and how heartily I love him. Read, George!"

"I never read letters that are not directed to myself," said the Elector,turning away.

"Well, then, I will read it to you!" cried the Electress, who in thefullness of her joy heeded as little the ill humor of the Elector as shedid the presence of Count Schwarzenberg, who upon her entrance hadmodestly withdrawn to one of the deep window recesses. "Yes, I will readit to you," she repeated, "for you must hear what our son writes."

And with a voice trembling from joy and agitation she read:

"My gracious, revered Mother: Before I enter my dear birthplace and returnhome to my beloved parents and sisters, I would announce my arrival toyour highnesses, that you may not be alarmed by my unexpected coming, andthat I may not come inopportunely to his grace, my father. I enjoy greatlygetting home, and all the testimonials of love and sympathy which I havereceived ever since I set foot within my father's territories, and theywill remain indelibly graven on my heart. I beg your grace to present mymost submissive respects to my gracious father and Elector, and to speak agood word for me to him, that his grace may no longer cherish resentmentagainst me on account of my long stay abroad, and that he may favorablyincline toward and receive me, and be convinced that I am and shall everremain the grateful and obedient son of my venerated parents.

"FREDERICK WILLIAM."

"Well" asked the Electress, "are not those affectionate, glorious words,and does not your fatherly heart rejoice in them? But just hear, hear, howthey shout and hurrah! It is the good people of Berlin! They are coming tothe palace to see our son!"

Again was the door through which the Electress had entered violentlythrown open, and two young ladies entered. Their lovely and blooming facesbeamed with happiness and their eyes glistened with joy.

"He comes! Our brother is coming!" they cried, rushing forward towardtheir parents. "Just come to the window, that we may see him, for he isriding around the corner into the pleasure garden"

"Are you all, then, wholly beside yourselves, and gone stark mad?" criedthe Elector passionately, while he rose from his armchair and proudly drewhimself up. "Who gives these two young ladies the privilege of entering mycabinet thus, unannounced and without ceremony? Just answer me one thing,Miss Charlotte Louise, did I permit you to come here?"

"No, dearest father," said the Princess timidly, casting down her large,dark eyes, "no, your grace has not indeed permitted us to do so, but wedid not think of that in the joy of our hearts, and because from here isthe best lookout upon the pleasure grounds, we--"

"We thought," interrupted the younger sister, who had hardly attained herfifteenth year--"we thought our dear papa, his Electoral Grace, wouldforgive us and look out with us to catch a sight of our beloved brother.And were we not right, dear papa, were we mistaken in thinking so, andwill your grace not allow your little Sophie Hedwig to lead you to thegreat corner window, that with mamma you may have a view of dear FrederickWilliam?"

The Princess had approached her father, and, tenderly and coaxinglystroking his cheeks with her little white hand, looked up at him with sucha gentle, pleading glance in her blue eyes as George William had neverhitherto been known to resist. But this time the eyes of his favorite hadno power over the Elector's heart, and indignantly he repelled herencircling arms.

"Let me alone with your 'dear Frederick William,' you saucy piece!" criedhe passionately. "You should at all events have waited until I had givenyou leave to appear here. If, in your childish giddiness, you knew nobetter, yet your sister Charlotte Louise, at the more mature age oftwenty, ought to have arrived at years of discretion, and known what wasproper."

"No one knows better what is becoming than the fair young PrincessCharlotte Louise, most gracious sir," said Count Adam Schwarzenberg,issuing from the window recess and greeting the Princess with areverential bow. "In the whole country the Electoral Princess is honoredas a brilliant model of fine manners and noble demeanor, and every onefeels himself blessed and honored who is permitted to approach her. And isnot the young lady right even now, dear sir, in coming here with her youngsister? It is surely proper and well for the united Electoral family to beseen by the nation as they look upon the dear son and brother, whosereturn gladdens their hearts?"

"Well, for aught I care, she may be right," muttered the Elector, "and Iwill grant my wife and daughters leave to look out of the corner window.But, meanwhile, where is the Electress?"

"Her grace is standing there before the corner window and gazing down soearnestly upon the square that I have not yet been so fortunate as to beallowed to pay my respects to her highness."

"For if the whole world had been assembled together she would have seennothing but the Electoral Prince," called out the Elector, shrugging hisshoulders. "Go to her, Adam, and present my compliments to her. Tell herthat I resign my cabinet to her and my daughters, and will withdraw intomy sleeping apartment until this uproar has subsided."

"Oh, do not do so, most honored father," cried the younger Princess. "Stayhere, and look out of the window with us."

"Do so, your Electoral Highness," pleaded the count, softly and quickly."Grant the people the light of your countenance."

"Well, so be it, then," sighed George William. "Call the servants,Charlotte Louise, that they may roll me to the window."

"As if I could not have the privilege of acting as servant to yourhighness, and as if my arm were not strong enough to guide your highness'schair. Permit me, gracious sir, to roll you to the window."

"And permit me to help your excellency," said Princess Charlotte Louise,smiling, while she seized one of the arms of the fauteuil.

"Now truly this is a very lofty equipage," cried George William, as thefauteuil rolled along through the spacious apartment. "The Stadtholder inthe Mark and a Princess of the blood drawing my equipage."

"But what a man sits in it!" said Count Schwarzenberg. "A duke of Prussia,of Pomerania, of Cleves, an Elector of Brandenburg, and--"

"Hurrah, hurrah!" sounded up from below in a chorus of hundreds of voices."Hurrah! long live the Electoral Prince!"

She had turned round and her eye met the count's gaze, who immediatelybowed low and reverentially before her. The Electress only thanked himwith a slight nod of her head, and herself sprang forward to push thefauteuil into the window niche. Then, with trembling hands, she openedboth window shutters and beckoned her daughters to her side.

"He must see us all, _all_" she said. "With one glance he must take infather, mother, and sisters."

"And my most faithful and best-beloved servant, the Stadtholder in theMark!" cried the Elector. "Come, Adam, place yourself close beside me,that the picture may be complete, and my son may see us all at once."

Boundless public rejoicings seemed to be in progress below; a loud,long-sustained, ever-renewed cheering rolled over the square like the roarof the sea.

"My son, my beloved son!" cried the Electress, leaning far out of thewindow and stretching out both arms toward the young man, who had justemerged from the shrubbery, on horseback and followed by a brilliant train.

"Brother, dear brother!" called out the two Princesses, leaning out of theother side of the window, and waving their handkerchiefs in token ofwelcome. Behind them sat the Elector in his great armchair, quiteforgotten and quite hidden from view by his wife and daughters, not at allvisible to either the people or his son.

"I shall remember this hour, oh! to be sure, I shall remember it," hesaid, with trembling lips; "my son shall atone to me for this hour ofshame and mortification. I--"

The huzzaing and shouting below drowned his words; they came pouring in atthe open window like the pealing tones of an organ, like the roar of thesea, like claps of thunder.

The Elector could no longer bear it. He looked up with glances of entreatyat the count, who, drawn up to his full height, stood proud and commandingat the side of his chair, his sharp eyes piercing down into the court overthe ladies' heads.

"Ah, Adam," sighed George William, "you, too, have forgotten me, and areonly looking upon him who is coming!"

But, however softly these words had been spoken, the count heard them, andtenderly he leaned over the Elector, and seized his hand to kiss it.

"I am looking at the newcomer," he whispered, "but I never forget you, andmy heart can never be unmindful of the love and fidelity it owes you."

"Hurrah! Long live the Electoral Prince!" was borne up in tumultuousuproar from the pleasure garden. "Long live the Electoral Prince! Longlive the Elector! Hurrah for the Elector George William!"

"They are calling for you, my husband, they call for you!" said theElectress. "Will you not show yourself to our dear people?"

"I ought, indeed, to be thankful to the dear people," returned herhusband. "The dear people have at least reminded the Electress that Istill exist, although she had crowded me back and rendered me entirelyinvisible behind her. Yes, I will show myself to the people, as they stillthink of me in the midst of their merriment. Step back from the window,ladies, make room for your Elector and lord! And you, Count Schwarzenberg,come and give me your arm; I would lean upon you!"

The count willingly offered the Elector his arm. Powerfully drawn up byhim, the Elector rose from his seat, and, leaning upon his favorite,stepped close up to the window. The shouts of joy were for a momenthushed; perhaps because the Electoral Prince had just ridden into thepalace yard, perhaps because the ladies' retreat from the window wasconsidered by the people a sign that the Elector was about to appear. Andnow, within the window frame, was seen the clumsy, broad figure of theElector; now was seen his large head, sparsely covered with gray hairs,his pale, swollen face, prematurely old, with its melancholy blue eyes andthin, colorless lips, round which played not the slightest smile. In thehandsome, powerful, and youthful Electoral Prince the people had justjoyfully greeted Brandenburg's future, and now from the window of thatgray, gloomy, wretched old palace looked out upon them the hopelessness ofBrandenburg's present. Like gazing upon embodied care and joylessresignation it was, to behold the Elector's grave, forbidding aspect, andbefore it the joyous cry upon the people's lips was silenced. They staredup at the window in dumb horror, and only here and there sounded criesfrom compassionate or bribed mouths: "Long live the Elector! Long liveGeorge William!" And like a dying echo came back the answer on this sideand on that, feebly and slowly: "Long live the Elector! Long live GeorgeWilliam!"

But now the people caught sight of the tall, stately form, in goldembroidered velvet suit, with the star of brilliants glittering on itsbreast, which stood beside the Elector; now they recognized that haughtycountenance with its glance of sovereign contempt, its smile of loftycondescension upon the thin, scornful lips, and a disturbance wasperceptible among the multitudes, as when a sudden gust of wind agitatesthe waves of the sea and lashes them up into fury and rage. All at oncethere came thundering up to the window, shrieked, howled, and hissed bythe crowd: "Down with the Catholics! Down with Schwarzenberg! Down withthe Imperialist!"

A deep flush overspread the Elector's face. He hastily stepped back fromthe window, and looked almost timidly up at the count, whose countenancemeanwhile had not for a moment lost its proud, smiling serenity. He seemednot to have heard the screams of the mob.

"They would vex me to death, therefore do they scream so!" cried theElector; "they know my regard for Schwarzenberg, and therefore are they soset against him and insult him, in order to insult me through him!"

"My parents, my beloved parents!" cried a clear, rich voice, and a youngman tore open the doors of the Electoral cabinet, revealing a tall,slender figure and a noble face, with sparkling eyes and smiling lips. TheElectress uttered one scream of rapture, and hastened to meet her son withoutstretched arms. He threw himself upon her breast, greeting her withphrases of fond endearment, and when he lifted himself from his mother'sheart there were the two sisters to embrace their dear and only brother,to greet him with affectionate words of love, and to hold him long, longin their encircling arms. The Elector had again sunk back into hisarmchair. His "faithful servant," Count Schwarzenberg, had again rolledhim back into the middle of the apartment and stationed himselfimmediately in the rear.

With unpropitious frowns had the Elector witnessed the first tendergreeting exchanged between the Electress and her son. Now, when hissisters in their turn engrossed him and the mother stood looking on intransport, now the Elector turned round to Schwarzenberg, and anexpression of deep bitterness spoke in every feature.

"My son seems not to know that I am yet in the world," he said, withquick, complaining tone of voice. "Had you not better remind him of it fordecency's sake, Adam?"

But at this moment the Electoral Prince freed himself from his sisters'arms, perceived the Elector, and sprang forward to him with open arms tothrow himself on his heart. But, when he got a nearer view of his father'sdark countenance, he let his arms drop, bent his knee before the Elector,and grasped one hand to imprint upon it a reverential kiss.

"My dear father, my most gracious Sovereign and Elector!" cried he intones full of tenderness, "I beg your pardon that my first word, my firstsalutation was not given to you. You see, I was always a foolish boy, whommy mother spoils, and who delights in being spoiled."

"I beg your pardon, my husband," said the Electress, approaching herhusband; "I alone was to blame that our son did not come first to you, aswas his duty, and pay his first respects to his father and Sovereign. Istopped him, and you must not impute as a fault to the son what wasoccasioned by a mother's tenderness."

The Elector made no reply, but looked down with moody resentment upon theElectoral Prince, who still knelt before him.

"My much-loved, gracious father," cried the Prince, "I once more beg yourpardon, and pray you kindly to forget if I have hitherto often given youground for annoyance, and have not appeared here immediately on your firstcommand. I see my error, and I promise, my dear, kind father, that I havereturned home as a penitent, affectionate son, as an obedient subject,whose earnest endeavor shall be to deserve the forgiveness and goodopinion of his lord and father, and to live wholly and solely insubjection to his will. Only bid me welcome, too, my most revered sir;bestow upon your son one word of welcome and fatherly love."

The Prince glanced so tenderly at his father, there lay so much feeling inhis handsome, expressive countenance, that the Elector could not resisthim, but, in spite of himself, felt his heart stirred by tenderness andemotion. He bowed down to him, a rare smile lit up his face, and he wasjust opening his lips to greet his son with words of friendliness andlove, when the shrieking and shouting down in the pleasure garden, whichhad ceased for some time (probably because their exhausted throatsrequired rest), burst forth again with redoubled violence.

"Away with the Catholics! Down with Schwarzenberg! Long live the ElectoralPrince. Down with Schwarzenberg!" came up with thundering impetuosity.

The friendly words died upon the Elector's lips, and the short sunshine ofhis smile vanished under a cloud of displeasure.

"It seems, sir," he said, "as if your arrival were a real jubilee for thelow rabble, who have assembled down there in the pleasure grounds, and asif your arrival were to be the cause of much vexation to me. Whatseditious, scandalous words are those shouted by those wretches?"

"I do not know, I did not hear them," said the Electoral Prince quickly.

"The mob saved me that trouble!" cried the Elector. They cut me off fromspeech with their 'Long live the electoral Prince!' What need is there fora further welcome from your old father?"

"I need it much," replied the Electoral Prince, with low, melancholyvoice. "I need a kind, gracious word from my father, on returning homeafter so long an absence; and it would seem to me as if my whole future,my whole life were under a cloud if I lacked the blessing of your love,the sunshine of your favor."

"My son knows how to arrange his words prettily," said the Elector,shrugging his shoulders; "it is very observable that he has become quite afine, elegant gentleman; who will find but little to his taste among us,and who will suit us just as little! But what are those people forevershouting?" said the Elector, interrupting himself, while he roseimpulsively from his armchair, thus obliging the Prince to rise from hisknees. "What infamous hubbub and howling is this, and what do you villainswant of us?"

"Nothing further, most noble Elector," replied Count Schwarzenberg, towhom the Elector had turned with his query--"nothing further than thatyour honor drive me away, nothing further than that you dismiss the hatedminister, whom they abhor, simply because he is a Catholic and not aReformer, and because he is named Schwarzenberg and not Rochow or Quitzow,nor blessed with some country bumpkin's title."

"I will rout this pack of vagabonds!" cried the Elector. "Let them darejust once more to let such an opprobrious, insulting shout be heard!"

And, quite forgetting his weakness and his limb so painfully swollen withgout, the Elector went rapidly to the still open corner window, and,leaning far out of it, lifted up his hand, commanding quiet. The peopletook this inclination of the body, this movement of the hand, for a tokenof grace, for a kind salutation on the part of their Sovereign, perhapseven for a granting of their demand. They roared aloud with delight, wavedaloft their hats and caps, their arms and handkerchiefs, and cried andwhooped and hurrahed: "Long live the Elector! Long live George William!Long live the Electoral Prince!"

The Elector stepped back and shut the window so violently that the littlepanes of glass, framed in lead, fairly rattled.

"Frantic populace!" he growled, "they mix up a wretched salad of cheersand curses, mingle weeds with their herbs, and fancy that we will findthis devilish compound pleasing to our palates! We shall remember them forit, and--"

"Most gracious sir!" cried Count Schwarzenberg, with radiant countenance,approaching the Elector--"most gracious sir, in this blessed hour of ourbeloved Electoral Prince's return, I have a favor to ask of your highness.His grace has just greeted me so amiably, so condescendingly, that he hascaused my heart to overflow with joy, and I feel the strongest desire togive expression to this joy. The return of the Electoral Prince is just aspropitious an event for me as, for the Electoral family, and for all yoursubjects it is a festive occasion which can not be sufficiently honored,and therefore I entreat your highness to permit me to celebrate it at myhouse also, and to gratify me by being present yourself at this _fete_,with all the other members of your exalted family."

The Elector looked upon his minister with an expression of joyfultenderness, and then turned his glance upon the Electoral Prince, whostood silent, and with lowered eyelids, beside his mother and sisters.

"Well, what say you to it, sir?" asked George William. "Do you accept theinvitation to the feast?"

"I, Electoral Lord?" asked the Prince, astonished. "It is not for me toaccept, or to say anything. I only await the decision of your highness,and now allow myself to remark that I shall ever feel honored by aninvitation from the Stadtholder in the Mark, and that no one can have ahigher appreciation of his services and a greater respect for hisstatesman-like experience and wisdom than myself."

"He knows how to speak, does he not, count?" asked the Elector, indicatinghis son by a quick nod of the head.

"Well, since it depends on my decision, I shall gladly extend to you myleave to celebrate the Electoral Prince's return by a little merrymaking,were it only that the good-for-nothing people of Berlin may see that weand our family are devoted to Count Schwarzenberg now as before, and thattheir pitiful howls have had no influence upon us and our determinations.Yes, we will come to your party, Adam, we accept your invitation cordiallyand affectionately."

"I thank my most gracious lord for this act of favor and condescension,"cried the count, pressing the Elector's proffered hand to his lips. "Willyour highness extend your favor by appointing the day on which sodistinguished an honor is to befall my house?"

"Well, that you may not have time to make too great preparations, and put